B J M Melis-Dankers¹, A C Kooijman²
¹Visio, National Foundation for the Visually Impaired and Blind, Noord, Sector Onderzoek en Revalidatie, Haren, The Netherlands; ²University Hospital Groningen, Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Groningen, The Netherlands
Five European partners joined forces and developed the Leonardo da Vinci Programme of Education and Training in Low Vision for Professionals as a universal vocational training for a variety of professionals in the effective assessment and rehabilitation of people who have low vision. The complete programme consists of six comprehensive training modules. We have developed the module Light, Contrast and Size, which seeks to augment knowledge in the nature of light, light sources, contrast , colour and size as well as their influence on visual perception. Furthermore, the use of non-optical solutions in low vision is discussed.
In 2000 we organised a 10-days pilot course in the Netherlands for 15 participants of various professional backgrounds of four different vision rehabilitation institutions. After extensive evaluation of this pilot course the subject matter was divided into two separate 4-days courses: Light, Lighting and Interior Design (LLD) and Contrast, Colour and Size (CCS).
The course on Light, Lighting and Interior Design focuses on the practical aspects of lighting and light measurements, the optimisation of lighting conditions and practical lighting advice in housing conditions. The Light, Lighting and Interior Design module is fully developed and evaluated now. This has resulted in an easy to use CD-rom with a full scenario of the course, complete with all lectures in MS-powerpoint, literature, practical training exercises and examination material. In the meantime approximately 100 professionals in the Netherlands successfully attended this module.
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